N Brown Group, the owner of fashion brands like Jacamo and Simply Be, is planning to lay off more than 100 employees at its Manchester headquarters.
The move comes as the company readies itself for a buyout by the Alliance family.
It is part of a broader organizational review as the company seeks to streamline operations and return to sustainable growth.
Job Reductions Amid Takeover
The company, which employs 1,561 staff, initiated a consultation process last month involving around 200 employees.
Of the 105 roles set to be eliminated, 98 are from its head office in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, with an additional seven jobs being cut from its supply chain hub.
Departments affected by the cuts include buying, merchandising, finance, data, logistics, trading, and creative teams.
The redundancies are expected to be completed by the end of October. However, N Brown stressed the cuts are unrelated to the acquisition talks.
which involve a potential buyout offer from Joshua Alliance, a non-executive director of the company, via his investment vehicle, Falcon 24 Topco.
Need Career Advice? Get employment skills advice at all levels of your career
Alliance Buyout in Progress
Earlier this week, Joshua Alliance made an offer to take N Brown private, offering 40p per share through Falcon 24 Topco.
While this buyout move is underway, N Brown has stated that the restructuring and job cuts were planned before the acquisition discussions.
A spokesperson for N Brown explained:
“As we continue our journey to return to sustainable growth and unlock the long-term potential of our business, our priority remains to deliver our strategic transformation whilst providing an exceptional customer experience.”
Supporting Affected Employees
The company stressed that it has taken the decision to reduce roles seriously and is committed to supporting affected employees through the redundancy process.
While the cuts are part of a broader strategy to enhance efficiency, they highlight the company’s efforts to navigate the challenges faced in the evolving retail market.
As N Brown moves forward with both its internal restructuring and the potential buyout, the company aims to streamline its operations and focus on long-term growth opportunities, ensuring its brands remain competitive in the retail sector.
